New York man who emailed threats to Pitt professors pleads guilty

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A New York man accused of emailing threats to University of Pittsburgh professors this spring during the height of a season of bomb threats on campus pleaded guilty this morning to harassment and will be allowed to return home.

Mark Lee Krangle, 66, of Croton-on-Hudson, also must continue psychiatric treatment as part of the agreement made this morning before District Judge Oscar Petite Jr.

Mr. Krangle's attorney said he suffers from fixed delusional disorder for which he was treated at Torrance State Hospital for 45 days before he returned to the Allegheny County Jail, where he has been held ever since.

Police arrested Mr. Krangle at Pittsburgh International Airport on April 11. They said he emailed several professors and also made reference to the March shooting at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic in one of the notes.

This morning, Mr. Krangle told the judge he won't do it again.

"I am committed to not communicating with these professors anymore and to giving up these political aspirations," he said.

Mr. Krangle was not connected to the bomb threats that targeted Pitt buildings and disrupted its campus this spring.